Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 11:19 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 11:19 a.m.

The Lafourche Parish Council has long had a reputation of holding long and chaotic meetings, and its new leader says it’s time to change that perception.

Chairman Lindel Toups is asking the council to adhere to its rules of conduct, a measure that was debated during the governing body’s Tuesday night meeting at the Mathews Government Complex.

“It makes us look like clowns,” said Toups, adding that overseeing a well-behaved council will be a priority during his fifth, non-consecutive stint as chairman. “I’m going to try to put an end to all of that.”

Council meetings are attended by local residents and broadcast on local television, meaning that every outburst is in public view

“This is just a reminder that we have to keep this to the business of the parish,” said Councilman Aaron Caillouet, who wrote the resolution imploring the council follow Robert’s Rules of Order, the standard by which most public meetings are conducted.

The measure passed in a 7-2 vote. Daniel Lorraine and Jerry Lafont cast the two no votes.

“The most egregious is commenting on the performance of employees at public meetings.”

Last year’s battle over the new residency requirement for parish administrator seemed to bring out the worst in the council, routinely eliciting name-calling and rude responses. Voters ousted former administrator Crystal Chiasson in November by approving an amendment to the Parish Charter that requires the administrator be a Lafourche resident. Chiasson lived in Assumption Parish.

Tuesday, during the discussion about Caillouet’s resolution, the council veered from the Robert’s Rules of Order on decorum at least three times.

“Mr. Caillouet ... when you are going to follow Robert’s Rules of Order, I will consider it,” snapped Lorraine in response to Caillouet’s opening comments on the resolution.

The rules prohibit personal attacks and councilmen addressing each other by name.

Caillouet’s motion specifically asks the council to confine remarks to the business at hand, refrain from attacking other members’ motives and avoid addressing other members by name.

Robert’s Rules state these guidelines keep debate from becoming personal, as it often has in the past six months.

Perhaps the most talked about lapse in decorum in recent memory happened in July. The council was discussing money that had been taken from a drainage-project account to resurface a street in Councilman John Arnold’s district when Lafont made a comment Arnold found offensive.

“Mr. Arnold keeps bringing up the safety of kids, and that plays a role — we all have kids. But Mr. Arnold, you own a strip club, and I’m not too fond of strip clubs. I don’t necessarily think those are good for kids,” Lafont said during the meeting.

Arnold owns Club Illusions, formerly known as the G-Spot, near Lafourche Crossing on La. 1. The two exchanged shoves in the parking lot after the meeting, but charges went nowhere.

During debate on Caillouet’s resolution, Lafont questioned its wording and whether the rules are applicable to current standards.

“What I do not like about the resolution: it says we shall follow, it could be a request,” Lafont said. “Robert’s Rules of Order, I’m trying to find a date, but I think it was right before Jesus Christ, that it was written.”

Toups then broke decorum by interrupting Lafont, insisting the antics will end with his chairmanship.

“If somebody talks out of turn, I will shut them up,” Toups said. “And nobody will criticize each other.”

Terrebonne’s Consolidated Government Council runs relatively smooth and shorter meetings with minimal arguments. Lafourche Council meetings often last four hours.

Terrebonne Council Chairwoman Arlanda Williams said the smoother meetings are due to her council’s use of Monday night committee meetings. She said most debate is done during these meetings, and most actions are ratified quickly and without antics during regular council meetings.

“You have to be strong as the chair too,” Williams said. “You have to be diligent (at enforcing the rules) and unbiased during debate.”

Lafourche ceased holding committee meetings in the late 1990s

“We don’t have the committee meetings so there is arguing,” Toups said. “If it keeps on, I am going to suggest we go back to the committee format.”

Parish President Charlotte Randolph said civility among council members is a must.

“The more business-like we appear, the more seriously people will take us.” Randolph said.

Randolph has been on both ends of heated exchanges in the past year. She most often clashes with Lorraine but that didn’t happen Tuesday.

“Tonight was good. Maybe Daniel thinks I’m the best thing since sliced bread,” Randolph joked following the meeting.

<p>The Lafourche Parish Council has long had a reputation of holding long and chaotic meetings, and its new leader says it's time to change that perception.</p><p>Chairman Lindel Toups is asking the council to adhere to its rules of conduct, a measure that was debated during the governing body's Tuesday night meeting at the Mathews Government Complex.</p><p>“It makes us look like clowns,” said Toups, adding that overseeing a well-behaved council will be a priority during his fifth, non-consecutive stint as chairman. “I'm going to try to put an end to all of that.”</p><p>Council meetings are attended by local residents and broadcast on local television, meaning that every outburst is in public view</p><p>“This is just a reminder that we have to keep this to the business of the parish,” said Councilman Aaron Caillouet, who wrote the resolution imploring the council follow Robert's Rules of Order, the standard by which most public meetings are conducted. </p><p>The measure passed in a 7-2 vote. Daniel Lorraine and Jerry Lafont cast the two no votes.</p><p>“The most egregious is commenting on the performance of employees at public meetings.”</p><p>Last year's battle over the new residency requirement for parish administrator seemed to bring out the worst in the council, routinely eliciting name-calling and rude responses. Voters ousted former administrator Crystal Chiasson in November by approving an amendment to the Parish Charter that requires the administrator be a Lafourche resident. Chiasson lived in Assumption Parish.</p><p>Tuesday, during the discussion about Caillouet's resolution, the council veered from the Robert's Rules of Order on decorum at least three times. </p><p>“Mr. Caillouet ... when you are going to follow Robert's Rules of Order, I will consider it,” snapped Lorraine in response to Caillouet's opening comments on the resolution. </p><p>The rules prohibit personal attacks and councilmen addressing each other by name. </p><p>Caillouet's motion specifically asks the council to confine remarks to the business at hand, refrain from attacking other members' motives and avoid addressing other members by name. </p><p>Robert's Rules state these guidelines keep debate from becoming personal, as it often has in the past six months. </p><p>Perhaps the most talked about lapse in decorum in recent memory happened in July. The council was discussing money that had been taken from a drainage-project account to resurface a street in Councilman John Arnold's district when Lafont made a comment Arnold found offensive.</p><p>“Mr. Arnold keeps bringing up the safety of kids, and that plays a role — we all have kids. But Mr. Arnold, you own a strip club, and I'm not too fond of strip clubs. I don't necessarily think those are good for kids,” Lafont said during the meeting.</p><p>Arnold owns Club Illusions, formerly known as the G-Spot, near Lafourche Crossing on La. 1. The two exchanged shoves in the parking lot after the meeting, but charges went nowhere. </p><p>During debate on Caillouet's resolution, Lafont questioned its wording and whether the rules are applicable to current standards.</p><p>“What I do not like about the resolution: it says we shall follow, it could be a request,” Lafont said. “Robert's Rules of Order, I'm trying to find a date, but I think it was right before Jesus Christ, that it was written.” </p><p>Toups then broke decorum by interrupting Lafont, insisting the antics will end with his chairmanship. </p><p>“If somebody talks out of turn, I will shut them up,” Toups said. “And nobody will criticize each other.”</p><p>Terrebonne's Consolidated Government Council runs relatively smooth and shorter meetings with minimal arguments. Lafourche Council meetings often last four hours. </p><p>Terrebonne Council Chairwoman Arlanda Williams said the smoother meetings are due to her council's use of Monday night committee meetings. She said most debate is done during these meetings, and most actions are ratified quickly and without antics during regular council meetings.</p><p>“You have to be strong as the chair too,” Williams said. “You have to be diligent (at enforcing the rules) and unbiased during debate.” </p><p>Lafourche ceased holding committee meetings in the late 1990s</p><p>“We don't have the committee meetings so there is arguing,” Toups said. “If it keeps on, I am going to suggest we go back to the committee format.”</p><p>Parish President Charlotte Randolph said civility among council members is a must.</p><p>“The more business-like we appear, the more seriously people will take us.” Randolph said. </p><p>Randolph has been on both ends of heated exchanges in the past year. She most often clashes with Lorraine but that didn't happen Tuesday.</p><p>“Tonight was good. Maybe Daniel thinks I'm the best thing since sliced bread,” Randolph joked following the meeting.</p>